Sure, the surround mode still works.

But (if I recall correctly) I don't have it turned on because I think it "colors" the music too much. I'm more of a purist who wants to hear what the artists originally intended.

However, to each his own.

If you're going to perform the speaker-lobotomy operation, let me know and I'll provide you with all my JBL stereo settings so that you can try them as a starting point afterwards.

I remember it sounded mighty strange at first after I disconnected the center speaker, but after some tweaking, I was able to get a fairly pleasant sound.

The stereo is still a rip-off and doesn't sound as good as an average mid-range car stereo, but that's just our lot in life.